Austria

Before 1848 1815 Congress of Vienna,Italy divded into seperate states and leaders. A reasserted control of northern states and supports pope and south. A STEP BACKWARD AS NAPOLEON HAD UNIFIED IT INTO 3 AREAS

RULED ITALYWITH an iron fist. heavy military presence in the north, secret police are rife, 8 year conscription for men in the army. PREVENTS SPREAD OF NATIONALISTIC FEELING AND POTENTIAL UPRISINGS. inflitrates secret socities suh as carbonari and crushes their uprisings and young italy. BECAUSE CRUSHING THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPELL AUSTRIA AND UNIFY - HENCE NO SUCCESS

During 1848 War of independence defeats charles ablert and northern kingdoms at custoza and novara. led be general radezksy. restores former leaders to other northern states including duchies THIS IS IMPORTANT AS SIGBNALS THE END OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM REBELLION.

BALANCE – THE WEAKNESS OF THE ITALIANS THEMSELVES MADE THEM EASIER FOR AUSTRIA TO DEFEAT.

1. DIVISION IN THE NATIONALIST, Balbo – a monarch under house of savoy, Mazzini a republic by uprising, Giobert who wanted the pope. This is a barrier to unification as there was no cohesion, NO EFFECTIVE GROUP TO LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST AUSTRIA they disagreed which made them weaker, the only thing they have in common is hatred of Austria,.

2. DIVISION IN THE STATES – sicily wanted indpednence. North less keen to join with poorer south. 1848 war of indepdence Austria beseigned Venetia and no states helped her. Lombardy and Venetia wee reluctant to join with Charles Albert, as believed he was only interested in expanding Piedmont. THIS ACTED AS A BARRIER AS INDIVIDUAL STATES WERE NOT WILLING TO PUT DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND SEE THEMSELVES AS A SINGLE COUNTRY WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

3. LACK OF POPULAR SUPPORT – lack of common currency, lack of single law system or languae. Poor road system made it hard to travel – people were insular and did not see themselves as Italians. ALTHO there was the cultural movement to inspire nationalism through writings of Manzoi and poets leopardi the majority of the people were illiterate and so not affected. Cultural factors were confied to towns and difficult to reach peasants through poor road network. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MASS UPRISING FOR INDEPENCEC – IN 1848 REVOLTS DUE TO HUNGER FROM FAMINE RATHER THAN WANTING UNIFICATION. PEOPLE DID NOT STAND UP AND FIGHT TO PREVENT AUSTRIAN RUL;ERS REASSERTING CONTROL IN 1848. IN THE ROMAN REPUBLIC THE PEOPLE CHEERED GARIBALDI BUT ALSO CHEERED THE POPE, - EASY TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER. 4. Lack of leader – Mazzini ALTHO created young Italy and wrote 50,000 phamplets he was not a great leader. He spent much time in prison or in exile, and believed that Italy would be united by armed uprising.THIS WEAKNEEDHIS IMPACT IN THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT BECAYUSE FIRSTLY 80% ARE ILLITERATE AND SECONDLY MOST PEOPLE BELIEVED HE WAS TOO EXTREME. YES HE SET UP YOUNG ITALY HOWEVER ALL ITS REVOLTS WERE CRUSHED.

5. POPE (s) – anti nationalism – restrict nationalistic ideas in the papal states. This IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE CHURCH HUIGELY SIGNIFICANT FOR PEASANTS WHO BELIEVED WHAT IT TOLD THEM TO – THEREFORE SUPPORTERS OF NATIONALIM IN THE PAPAL STATES FOUND IT HARD TO GET SUPPORT. IN 1848 - refuses to join with the northern states and Charles albert. He fled to france who sent 20,000 troops to resinstate him. THIS ACTED AS AN OBSTACLE TO NATIONALIST ACHIEVEING UNIFICATION BECAUSE IT MEANT CHARLES ALBERT HAD LESS TROOPS TO FIGHT THE AUSTRIANS WITH, IT ALSO LOST SUPPORT FROM MANY DEVOUT CATHOLICS. Finally THE ARRIVAL OF FRENCH TROOPS IN ROME ITALY’S NATURAL CAPITAL – AND THE CRUSHING OF GARIBALDI’S ROMAN REPUBLI –MEANT THAT UNIFICATION WAS GGOING TO BE EVEN HARDER.

6. CHARLES ALBERT –poor military skills – led northern states against Austria – didn’t cut off communication lines –delayed attacking Austria when she was weak – believed Italy would do it without foreign help. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE FOUGHT WITH 30,000 AGAINST 75,000 AUSTRIANS AND WAS DEFEATED AT CUSTOZA N AND NOVARA. THIS MARKED THE END OF THE NORTHERN UPRISING. HIS LACK OF MILITARY SKILL ALSO CONTRIBUTED AS NOT CUTTING OFF COMMUNICATUIN LINES ALLOWED AUSTRIA TO GET REINFORCEMENTS AND FIGTH MORE ON HER TERMS. Perhaps too HARSH TO CRITISE FOR NOT GETTING FOREIGN HELP AS UNLIKELY THAT FRANCE, PRUSSIA OR RUSSIA WOULD BE WILLING TO FIGHT AGAINST THEIR ALLY AUSTRIA.

7. IN CONCLUSION Austria was very umportant to the lack of unification by 1850. On the hand this was beause she used her military strength to prevent nationalism growing before 1850 and also to crush the war in 1848. On the other hand the Italians themselves explain the lack of unity. She lacked a suitable skilled leader who would appeal to all and who supported the movement. The divisions in the nationalists themselves and the states combined with the lack of popular support meant that it was very easy for Italy to be divided and conequered.